The
just concluded 30th anniversary celebration of Akwa Ibom State took a
new dimension today in Uyo, with the arrest of two indigenous tourism
consultants to the week-long events.
Ini Edo, accusing the tourism experts of 'stealing' her idea of Ibom Fest, which was cancelled last year.
In
a petition to the Police, Edo alleged that Utin and Ekpe sold the idea
of Ibom Fest to the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and renamed
it "Orange September" the official brand of the 30th anniversary of the
State.
Instead
of petitioning Akwa Ibom State Government or demanding the arrest of
the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rt. Hon. Victor Antai for
allegedly stealing her initiative, the Governor's Aide however resorted
to sending the Police after the tourism consultants. These are same
consultants who have been promoting the cultural heritage of the State
both at the national and international scene.
Ini
Edo is said to have met with Non governmental organizations, corporate
organizations, groups and individuals, who had agreed to sponsor the
botched Ibom Fest and collected millions of Naira from the sponsors and
disappeared without paying her consultants, Joseph Utin and Ubong Ekpe
or accounting for the said money.
Angry
over the success of the anniversary celebration, which she was not part
of, Ini Edo went to the Police and ordered the arrest of her former
consultants on a flimsy excuse that they sold her initiative of Ibom
Fest to the State Government.
Ini
Edo, a native of ONNA, the same local government with Governor Udom
Emmanuel, who she is currently serving as Special Assistant, reported
the matter to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, which in turn,
ordered its officers in Akwa Ibom to arrest the two consultants in Uyo
today.
The tourism experts will be flown to Abuja tomorrow for prosecution.
At
the State Police Command's Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, this evening,
the consultants debunked the claims by Ini Edo and described the
petition as baseless.
By Patience Utin
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